Process of obtaining potash salts from feldspar.



barren srmrns PATENT orrrcn PROCESS or OBTAINING POTASH semis FROM FELDSPAR.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be.it.--=lmown-'that I, HARRY P. =B'ASSE'I'1, a citizen -of the' United States, residing at Baltimore, in the-State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Obtaining Potash Salts frbm Feldspar, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the treatment of feldspar or feldspathic rock to obtain potash therefrom and has particular reference toa process of not only obtaining potash salts from feldspar or feldspathic rock but of securing as a byproduct, a material adapted without further treatment, for use in the manufacture of pottery and for other purposes.

Heretofore feldspar or feldspar bearing rock has been treated at an elevated temperature with various mixtures of salt and other reagents, notably with salt and lime and with salt and-sodium acid sulfate; but

these processes are much more expensivednction of calcium into the residue while in the lime andsalt process as Well as in the sodium acid sulfate process the iron-1s not removed, the removal of iron being one of the main features of, my improvedprocess.

Now I'have discovered that potash can be economically and satisfactorily obtained from feldspar and feldspar bearing rock'by treatment with salt alone'and that the potash salts and byproducts of the reaction can be obtained in relatively 'pure form.

In the practice of my process I add to disintegrated and preferably finely ground feldspar or feldspar bearing rock, about one half of its weight of sodium chlorid and heat the mixture to a yellow heat in the presence ofair, preferably from 800 to 900 C., for about one to two hours. The mass is then treated with water preferably by being dumped while still hot, into a vat of water which may advantageously be used in the proportion of about two to five parts by weightof water to one part of the fused mass. The mass is then leached with water Specification of Letters Patent PaigenfMSgiflg, 9,1913. Application filed June 22, 1$1L Sefinl'No. 634,779.

tained in any desired manner, preferably by evaporation to dryness. The potassium under treatment except that the potassium s replaced by sodium and any iron present in the orlginal rock will have been volatil then dried and ground, the resultingiproduct pottery and other purposes suchas a'pape'r filler or for making'enamel ware. The feldspar or feldspar bearing rock may be ground preferably not less than 40 mesh, and above 100 mesh is unnecessary. The leached residue is dried and ground and is then ready for use. v

l Vhile I havedescribed the preferred re agents and proportions employed"in my process, it is to be understood that chemical equivalents of such reagents may be emthey are brought together may be, Widely variedwithin the spirit of my invention and without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

claim 1. The herein described process which consists in. adding sodium chlorid to feldspar or similar potassium containing rock, heating the mixture in the presence of air without the addition thereto of lime or other calcium containing compound to a reacting temperature to render the potassium salts present soluble in water and dissolving out the potassium salts with water.

'2. The herein described process which consists in adding sodium chlorid to feldspar or similar. potassium containing rock in the proportions .of approximately one part by weight of sodium chlorid to two parts by weight of feldspar or similar potassium containing rock, heating the mixture compound to a reacting temperature to render the potassium salts soluble in water and dissolving out the potassium salts with water. a

3. The herein described process which ized as iron chlorid and thus removed is being a white mass that maybe used for" ployed and that the proportions in which Having thus described my invention,, I

in the presence of air without the addition thereto of lime or other calcium containing?" HARRY PIIBASSETT, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPAR CHEMICAL COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

andhe Potash and sodium stus' are db and sodium salts are later separated, as. for example by crystallization. The leachedresidue which corresponds in composition closely with that of the feldspatliic rock n to any desired fineness before treatment but consists in adding sodium cnlorid to feldspar-or similar potassium containing rock 5 in the approximate proportions of one part l by weight of sodium chlorid to two parts by Weight of feldspar or similar potassium containing rock, heating the mass in the presence of air Without the addition thereto of lime or other calcium containing compound to a yelloit heat, bringing the mass While i 10 still hot in contact with water, leaching said mass with Water, and recovering the potassium salts from the leachings, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HARRY P. BASSETT. Witnesses:

C. W. PARKER, JAMEs L. CRAWFORD.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

